Indian prime minister invites Chinese president to visit

India’s newly appointed prime minister has invited the Chinese president for a visit to engage the two most populous nations on trade and regional security, a report says.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the invitation on Thursday during a phone call with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who had called to congratulate the new Indian premier on his recent election, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Modi said that he was eager to work closely with Chinese President Xi Jinping to tackle any outstanding issues, adding that he “welcomed greater economic engagement between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, the Chinese premier, Li, conveyed his country’s “desire to establish robust partnership” with India's new government, the statement said.

The statement follows similar remarks made during a meeting between Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Indian Ambassador to China Ashok Kumar Kantha on Tuesday.

Yang Jiechi said China was ready to work with the new Indian government “in a bid to maintain high-level contact, strengthen cooperation and communication in all areas, keep the good momentum in developing bilateral ties, and contribute to the peace and progress of Asia and the world.

On Monday, Modi took the oath of office as India's prime minister at the start of a new era hailed by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif as an opportunity to end decades of regional instability.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee administered the oath of office in front of heads of state from around the world, including the leaders of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

The last Chinese head of state to visit India was Hu Jintao in 2012.

The 63-year-old, whose right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party won the first parliamentary majority in three decades on May 16, has pledged to revive manufacturing and investment to create millions of jobs.